Embedded Steel Plates: The Hidden Base That Holds Your Column Upright

Embedded steel plates (embed plates) are pre-cast into concrete foundations, walls or beams to provide a bolted connection point for future steelwork. Below is MJ1, a column-base embed plate from an actual fabrication drawing.

Basic Specs

表格

​​​

Construction Details

The embed plate consists of a top base plate, anchor rods and shear connectors:

• Base plate: 440×440×30 mm, top surface level with concrete
• Anchor rods: 8 pieces, Φ20, hooked at bottom (100 mm hook)
• Shear connector: T120×12, cross-shaped, center-mounted, 150 mm tall
• Weld: anchor rods plug-welded through base plate
• Grout gap: after steel column erection, gap grouted with non-shrink mortar
• ​​​

Advantages

1. Accurate positioning — pre-set in concrete, ensures column base alignment
2. Fast erection — bolt-down on site, no field welding or drilling
3. High load capacity — thick 30 mm plate distributes column load to concrete
4. Shear resistance — T-shaped shear connector resists horizontal sliding
5. Replaces drilled-in anchors — no post-installed chemical anchors needed

Disadvantages / Limitations

1. Precise installation required — wrong position cannot be corrected after concrete pour
2. Needs formwork cooperation — must be fixed before concrete pour, tight schedule
3. Costlier than post-install anchors — material + labor higher than chemical anchors
4. Heavy to handle — 30 mm thick plate plus 450 mm rods is bulky
5. Damage during pour — concrete vibrators can knock plate out of position

Typical Applications

1. Steel column base plates — anchor columns to concrete foundation
2. Beam-to-concrete connections — new steel beams added to existing concrete frame
3. Bridge bearing pads — bridge girders sit on embedded steel plates
4. Equipment foundations — heavy machinery bolted to embed plates
5. Facade support angles — curtain wall steelwork anchored to concrete slab\

Installation Notes

• Base plate level adjusted by nuts on anchor rods before concrete pour
• Shear connector centered, welded to underside of base plate
• Anchor rods hooked at bottom for pull-out resistance
• After steel column erection, gap grouted with non-shrink mortar
• ​​​

**WhatsApp**: +86‑13889862778, +86‑18242444407
**Email**: eddie@zdsteels.com, wells@zdsteels.com